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Protection 1 makes another commercial buy

Things have been busy in Romeoville this quarter. Protection 1 announced Tuesday that it’s made another buy. An IT-centric systems integrator, based in Fort Worth, Texas, called Suntera Security.

It’s a really interesting purchase and comes on the heels of another IT-centric buy P1 announced at ASIS, of Integration Logistics. Here’s that story.

Suntera brings P1 into some new territory with its GSA contract, DoD work and some big-name customers such as Bell Helicopter, Lockheed, XTO Energy and ExxonMobil.

I’m on the road right now, but will be interviewing someone at Protection 1, hopefully today, so check back for a story on this as early as Thursday morning.For now, here are some excerpts from the release:

“Suntera is an IT-centric systems integrator and, for Protection 1, the move is a continuation of its effort to build out a true integrated systems division for today’s IT landscape.Suntera serves the complex security needs of a broad range of commercial clients with a specialization in Department of Defense (DOD)-related security clients and the energy markets. The company has played an integral role in working with cities to author security requirements to protect citizens from potentially dangerous industrial sites close to urban areas.“Our acquisition of Suntera will truly be mutually beneficial,” said Protection 1 Chief Executive Officer Timothy J. Whall. “We’re now able to expand our offerings to existing and future clients that are looking to leverage their IT infrastructure to create additional reliability and cost savings for their security systems. In addition, Suntera customers will benefit from Protection 1’s broader footprint and ability to offer services on a national basis.”The addition of Suntera adds 15 employees to Protection 1’s roster and the General Services Administration (GSA) contract, along with the Texas Mutual Award Schedule (TXMAS), will be transferred as well. This will enable Protection 1 to provide services to both Federal and state government agencies, as well as others requiring DOD security requirements.The more comprehensive offering also allows Protection 1 to provide additional options for Suntera’s current customers, particularly with their latest video services. Other noteworthy customers now under the Protection 1 umbrella include Bell Helicopter, Lockheed, XTO Energy and ExxonMobil.“We’re excited to begin working with Protection 1’s outstanding leadership and highly technical staff,” said Les Vernon, Suntera’s founder. “This enables us to not only strengthen our focus on custom integration solution designs, but also expand our ability to provide proactive monitoring services knowing the Protection 1 infrastructure is able to support future growth.”This is the second integrated solutions acquisition in as many months for Protection 1. In September, the company added Newark, Del.-based Integration Logistics, adding new integrated systems capabilities to its commercial and national account security offerings.The additions allow Protection 1 to provide a more robust customer experience in terms of products and services, while growing its employee base with subject matter experts on various topics. The company has experienced triple-digit growth over the past two years in its national account division – growth that is attributable to Protection 1’s strong and growing knowledge of integrated and highly complex network-based solutions.”

This blog, by Martha Entwistle, the editor of Security Systems News, offers thoughts, news, and a forum for discussion for those who work in and around the physical security industry, integrating and installing security systems in North America.